Let's build the fence

Jan Metzmaker's points and statements in last week's, "In My View" (Whitefish Pilot), sound good to us. Build that fence around the city of Whitefish to keep the "People of the Doughnut" out.

As for the city-owned and operated facilities that we "People of the Doughnut" use for free, I beg to differ. In fact, The Wave is the only facility Jan mentioned that my family and I use. We have been members since The Wave opened and have paid membership dues every month to date. Oh, and we pay taxes too! Probably more than Jan does.

As for these facilities being the reason our property has value, I once again do not agree. The reason our property has value is because we invested a substantial amount of time, work and money to obtain it. I agree the ski hill, lake and surrounding recreational atmosphere make our property valuable. In fact, that is why we purchased it in the first place and spent the extra amount, rather than buying property in other areas that Jan mentioned. By the way, I'm sure the residents of Geraldine, Otter, Moccasin and Martin City love and cherish their properties the same way we do.

The "People of the Doughnut" all pay taxes, are not subsidized by the city, cannot voice an opinion or vote on City Council issues, are not zoned the same as city residents, and do not have city services such as water, sewer, gas, cable, etc.

As for annexation, fine! Annex the intended properties. Provide all city services, including paving the roads, and whoever that property owner is that gets annexed will be laughing all the way to the bank!

As for Jan's brilliant idea of a swipe card for "People of the Doughnut" to use every time they frequent one of the city's parks or facilities, they would be assessed a charge. Well Jan, I think you should have one too! So every time you go climb over the fence to go for a walk down one of the country roads that we "People of the Doughnut" pay to have dust-free for you, (to the tune of about $400 annually per homeowner), you can be assessed a charge.

For those towns mentioned that would welcome the "People of the Doughnut" with open arms. Well, we might be headed their way. I wonder if they would welcome Jan Metzmaker?

Chad Silliker

Whitefish